Terrence R. Allen

Terrence R. Allen is a partner in the Corporate and Securities Practice Group of Pepper Hamilton LLP, resident in the Orange County and Los Angeles offices. Mr. Allen has experience in a broad array of corporate transactions, including public and private mergers, stock purchases, asset sales and leveraged recapitalizations. He represents issuers in private placements and venture capital deals and investors in purchases of equity and start-up and other private companies. Mr. Allen also advises clients on corporate governance and disclosure matters.

Mr. Allen has conducted extensive market research relating to private M&A transactions. In 2003, he conceived and led the development of one of the earliest and most comprehensive "deal points" studies to achieve circulation in the marketplace. The study involved the analysis of more than 250 acquisition agreements pertaining to closed private M&A transactions in more than two dozen industries to determine the prevalence of approximately 70 different provisions often included in these agreements. More recently, he conceived and led an exhaustive and groundbreaking study of indemnity claims in private M&A transactions.

Vidhya graduated from Boston University (B.A., cum laude) and Temple University (J.D.). Prior to joining Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu, she was a summer associate at the United Nations, Office of Legal Affairs, in New York City. Vidhya is a member of the State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section (formerly known as the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section); San Francisco County Bar Association; San Mateo County Bar Association; Silicon Valley Bar Association; and the American Bar Association.

An active member of the community, Vidhya is on the Foster City Lions Board of Directors, a board member of the San Carlos Belmont Mother’s Club, and a regular contributor of articles to various parent club newsletters. In addition to these activities, her pro bono work includes the formation of non-profit corporations and counseling non-profit entities.

In her spare time, Vidhya enjoys participating in book clubs, traveling and spending time with her family.

Education

Temple University, J.D.

Boston University, B.A., cum laude

Experience

Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section, member

San Francisco County Bar Association

San Mateo County Bar Association

Silicon Valley Bar Association

American Bar Association

Foster City Lions, board of directors

San Carlos Belmont Mother’s Club, board member

Jaime Bodiford

Jaime Bodiford is an associate at Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP, with her practice focus on corporate transactions, business law and real estate. In addition, she advises clients on a variety of civil litigation matters and trust and estate law.

Prior to joining Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu, Jaime was an associate with the Mitzel Group. She also worked for four years as a market manager with BNSF Railway Company, where she managed the business strategy and marketing activities for the company's petroleum and building products market groups.

In law school, Jaime was an articles editor for the University of San Francisco Law Review, Volume 44, and she received the Arthur C. Zief Scholarship for Extra-Curricular Contributions to the University of San Francisco School of Law.

In her spare time Jaime volunteers for animal rescue organizations, and competes in equestrian events.

Education

University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D.

Texas A&M University, M.S., Marketing

Texas A&M University, cum laude, B.B.A., Finance

Experience

Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP

Mitzel Group

BNSF Railway Company

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California and in the United States District Court, Northern District of California

Associations

Bar Association of San Francisco

San Mateo County Bar Association

Barristers of San Mateo County

Casey Bradford

Casey Bradford, an associate at Jones Day in Atlanta, focuses her practice on environmental law, including environmental litigation and due diligence in support of business transactions. She has represented clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings involving Clean Air Act issues, and has counseled clients on managing potential liability under RCRA and CERCLA for solid and hazardous wastes. In addition, she has assisted clients in responding to agency requests for information and notices of violation issued under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and equivalent state states.

Casey’s due diligence experience includes large and small-scale business transactions encompassing a range of environmental issues, including the emission of air pollutants, groundwater contamination, and waste disposal practices. She also has experience with regulatory compliance counseling, advising clients on how to comply with storm water management requirements and other provisions of the Clean Water Act and equivalent state laws, as well as community-right-to-know obligations under EPCRA. Additionally, she has assisted clients in voluntarily disclosing areas of potential noncompliance under EPA's Self-Audit Policy and routinely advises clients on changes in environmental laws and regulations at the state and federal levels.

Casey is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Environmental Law Section and is active in Jones Day's Special Education Project.

Education

University of Virginia, J.D.

Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law, editor

Lile Moot Court Competition, quarterfinalist

University of Florida, B.S., Forest Resources and Conservation, high honors

Experience

Jones Day

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in Georgia

Associations

State Bar of Georgia, Environmental Law section, member

Special Education Project, Jones Day

Natasha Chalmers

Natasha Chalmers, senior counsel with Gordon & Rees LLP, is a member of the Real Estate practice group in the firm’s San Francisco office. Natasha has considerable experience with all aspects of commercial real estate leasing, purchase and sale, and real estate financing, including the review of title documents and title insurance and residential purchase and sale. She also provides general property advice in relation to a wide variety of real property related documents, such as settlement and release agreements and easements agreements.

Natasha has represented both landlords and tenants for office buildings, industrial properties and retail outlets, and has reviewed, drafted, negotiated and advised on leases, subleases, consents to sublease, terminations, assignments, amendments, tenant estoppels and SNDAs, as well as analyzed and enforced rights and obligations under existing leases. She has acted for both purchasers and sellers in the purchase and sale of commercial buildings, and has drafted, reviewed and negotiated purchase agreements and related closing documents. In addition, Natasha has represented large institutional lenders in secured and unsecured lending transactions including drafting and reviewing deeds of trust, secured loan agreements, promissory notes, UCC financing statements and guaranties.

Her clients have included Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, local developers, asset managers, furniture outlets, small businesses, internet companies, biotechs and banking institutions, and she negotiated one of the largest distribution center leases in Silicon Valley.

Natasha practiced as a UK solicitor (attorney), working in the real estate department of an international law firm on general property matters and real estate issues in support of the corporate group. Natasha relocated to California in 2000 where she re-qualified and commenced her practice as a U.S. attorney.

Education

College of Law, England

University of Exeter, England, B.A., Economics and Law

Experience

Gordon & Rees LLP

Reed Smith LLP

Clifford Chance, UK

Shoosmiths, UK

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California and admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales

Associations

San Francisco Commercial Real Estate Women

The British Benevolent Society, board member

American Red Cross

George Colindres

George Colindres, of counsel with Perkins Coie LLP, is with the Business and Emerging Companies practices in the firm's San Diego and Los Angeles offices. He acts as outside general counsel for clients in a diverse array of industries, including social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, online gaming, software, hardware, telecommunications, medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and real estate. His work for these clients includes corporate governance, commercial and licensing agreements; employment and compensation matters; preferred stock and other equity financings; convertible promissory note financings; venture debt financings and other secured transactions; and, mergers and acquisitions transactions and preparation for going public.

George also represents venture capital firms, strategic investors, angel groups and other investors in connection with their participation in preferred stock and convertible promissory note (bridge) financings, as well as with fund formation and governance matters. In addition, George represents real estate funds and related companies in connection with fund formation and governance matters, investments, divestitures, secured transactions and other transactions.

Nicole A. Davidson

Nicole A. Davidson is a solo practitioner and owner of the Law Office of Nicole A. Davidson. She has a decade of experience in estate planning, trust administration, and estate administration.

Prior to hanging a shingle, Nicole gained litigation experience at two environmental law boutiques: Envision Law Group and The Arnold Law Practice.

Nicole graduated from Eckerd College (B.S., high honors, 1999) and the University of San Diego, School of Law (J.D., 2001). She was a member of the San Diego Law Review, which published her comment, “Internet Gambling: Should Fantasy Sport Leagues Be Prohibited?”, 39 SAN DIEGO L. REV. 281-347 (2002). She externed for the Honorable Thomas Whelan (U.S. District Ct. for the Southern District of California), interned for the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and represented clients through the University of San Diego Tax Clinic. Additionally, Nicole received the Alec L. Cory Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service and the American Jurisprudence award in Biotechnology Law.

Nicole is a member of the State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section (formerly known as the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section); State Bar of Florida; and the American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section. She is a past president of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, Solo Section (2005-2007). In addition, she served on the board of the Diablo Valley College Foundation and assisted with planned giving (2007-2008).

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys leading an active lifestyle, spending quality time with her family, cooking international cuisine, reading crime thrillers, and playing the piano.

Education

University of San Diego, School of Law, J.D.

San Diego Law Review, member

Honorable Thomas Whelan (U.S. District Ct. for the Southern District of California), Extern

Peter J. Dekom

Peter J. Dekom practices law in Los Angeles and represents a wide range of clients—Hollywood notables and corporate entities as well as media investment funds. He is involved with setting up a “next generation” film studio and currently serves as a senior mediator with the Entertainment Mediation Institute in Beverly Hills.

Peter’s extensive experience includes management/marketing consulting; entertainment, Internet and telecommunications entrepreneurialism; creating, writing and implementing legislation to encourage film and television production in New Mexico, and supervising a film loan program; advising the governor on film and television-related matters; and providing off-balance sheet, insurance-backed financing for major motion picture studios.

The many professional accomplishments and recognitions achieved by Peter include a listing in Forbes among the top 100 lawyers in the United States; one of the 50 most powerful people in Hollywood, Premiere Magazine; the American Bar Association Sports and Entertainment Forum - Ed Rubin Award for leadership and service (October 2012); Entertainment Lawyer of the Year, 1994, The Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Century City Bar Association; Man of the Year for work with the homeless, 1992, Family Assistance Program; the author of dozens of scholarly articles and the co-author of the book Not on My Watch; Hollywood vs. the Future; adjunct professorship with the UCLA Film School; lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business; and a featured speaker worldwide at film festivals, corporations, universities and bar associations.

Education

University of California Los Angeles, UCLA School of Law, first in class

Tom’s most significant current engagement is on behalf of Chevron in defense of various legal and administrative proceedings arising out of oil seeps that occurred off the coast of Brazil in November 2011 and March 2012. Along with private class-action lawsuits, there are federal and state civil actions seeking billions of dollars for alleged environmental damages, and related criminal charges against Chevron Brazil and several of its employees. Tom’s environmental and insurance coverage clients have included high-tech companies, auto manufacturers, aerospace, energy, oil and gas, and metals and mining companies, utilities, equipment manufacturers, food and consumer product manufacturers, financial institutions, retailers, and real property owners and developers. He has appeared in all federal district courts in California, the Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and California trial and appellate courts.

Listed in Chambers USA, 2008–2012, as one of the leading environmental attorneys in the state of California, Tom also has been recognized as a leading environmental attorney by several other trade publications.

Education

Harvard University, J.D.

Tufts University, B.A. Political Science and History, summa cum laude

Experience

Jones Day

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

State Bar of California

Anthony Ellrod

Anthony (Tony) Ellrod, a founding partner of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP, is based in the Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on business and commercial transactions, including drafting complex commercial contracts and other agreements, and the creation and maintenance of business entities. Tony also heads the firm's intellectual property practice, which includes the registration and licensing trademarks and copyrights, and the prosecution of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property.

Tony is a seasoned trial attorney in addition to his experience in commercial transactions. A member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), he has conducted countless successful jury trials in state and federal court on matters ranging from premises liability to complex business disputes. He is often called upon to argue such matters before the Courts of Appeal and has obtained favorable published opinions.

Tony’s professional distinctions include an AV rating, the highest rating available under the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System, recognition as one of California's most outstanding lawyers and, from 2005–2011, selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics as well as included in the Corporate and Business Editions. Tony also heads the firm's intellectual property practice, which includes the registration and licensing of trademarks and copyrights, and the prosecution of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property.

The author would like to thank Daniel Herbert, a partner with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester for his valuable assistance in the preparation of these materials.

Education

Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D.

University of South Florida, B.A. Business Administration

Experience

Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester, LLP

Morris, Polich & Purdy

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in all California state courts, and before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United States

Associations

California Bar Association, Business Law Section

California Bar Association, Litigation Section

Association of Southern California Defense Counsel

Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)

Aurelia Foundation, board member

Malibu Special Education Foundation, legal counsel

James G. Gatto

Jim Gatto is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton’s Washington, D.C., office. Jim leverages his unique combination of nearly 30 years of IP experience, business insights, and attention to technology trends to help companies develop IP and other legal strategies that are aligned with their business objectives. His practice focuses on intellectual property, Internet, and technology law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and open source. Jim advises clients of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, on key legal and business issues relating to the use of social media, video games, social games and online gambling, virtual currency and goods, social networks, virtual worlds, mirror worlds, augmented reality, open source, user-generated content, location-based services, and gamification.

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.

Manhattan College, B.E. in Electrical Engineering

Experience

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

John Hopkins University, adjunct professor in MBA program

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

James E. Gibbons

James E. Gibbons is a partner in Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP’s Los Angeles headquarters. As chair of the firm’s Insurance and Risk Transfer practice, his focus is on disputes involving insurance coverage and contractual risk transfer mechanisms.

James specializes in analysis and drafting of insurance and contractual risk transfer provisions, authoring opinions on those matters and litigation aimed at resolving disputes over those issues. With a wide range of trial and appellate experience, he has chaired numerous trials involving insurance coverage issues. Additionally, he was counsel of record in two landmark California Supreme Court cases involving insurance issues, Buss v Superior Court (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35, and PPG v Transamerica Ins. Co. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 310.

From 2007–2012, James has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” for Insurance Coverage by Law & Politics, an organization that honors the top five percent of the California Bar based on a detailed peer review survey followed by a blue ribbon panel review and, by this same publication, he was named a “Super Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Edition,” for 2009, 2010, and 2012. He is also a volunteer temporary judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Education

Boston University School of Law, J.D.

San Francisco State University, B.A., Journalism

Experience

Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester, LLP

Haines, Brydon & Lea

Accreditations

Licensed to practice before all California state courts, and the United States District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California

Associations

California Bar Association, Business Law Section

California Bar Association, Litigation Section

American Bar Association

Barbara Gregoratos

Barbara Gregoratos, a partner at Jones Day in San Francisco, has a transactional real estate private equity practice that extends to most aspects of commercial real estate law, and involves both equity and debt investment and real estate finance. She has experience in the formation of partnerships, limited liability companies, and other joint venture platforms, as well as financing experience, which includes permanent and construction financing, participating loans and mezzanine debt. Barbara represents clients in direct real estate transactions, including purchases, sales and financings of all types of commercial properties (including REO sales for national bank clients), and commercial leases, including build-to-suit transactions.

Barbara’s clients include domestic and foreign capital sources (including sovereign wealth funds), financial institutions, property companies and developers. She has represented fund investors and other capital sources in a variety of transactions, including fund investment, and the formation of funds and joint venture arrangements for acquisition or investment in real estate-related assets.

Barbara co-authored a chapter titled “Considerations in Structuring a Real Estate Fund,” in Inside the Minds: Fund Formation Strategies (2008) and was a speaker at the 2011 ABA Annual Meeting and at the 2012 ABA Real Property Section Spring Symposia, in presentations sponsored by the ABA’s Real Property Section Committee on International Transactions. Barbara has been listed in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition and in North California Super Lawyers.

Education

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., magna cum laude

Order of the Coif and Member of the Thurston Legal Scholarship Society

Hastings Law Journal, Member and Article Solicitation Editor

University of California Davis, A.B. Russian Literature and History

Experience

Jones Day

Extern to the Honorable Joseph Grodin, California Supreme Court

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

Appointed Co-Vice-Chair of the International Investments in Real Estate Committee (a committee of the Special Investors and Investment Structure Group, of the ABA’s Real Property Section) 2012-2013

David M. Hernand

David M. Hernand is a partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Mr. Hernand advises companies, board of directors, special committees, investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms, and high net-worth individuals and families in public and private merger and acquisition transactions (including cross-border and distressed M&A transactions), corporate control contests, strategic partnering arrangements, public and private capital raising transactions, and general company representation matters. He works with companies in a variety of industries ranging from consumer products to energy, and has extensive experience working with technology and new media companies.

Education

Georgetown University, J.D.

University of California Los Angeles, B.A.

Experience

Cooley LLP

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP

Idealab, managing director

New.net, CEO

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

California State Bar, Past Co-Chair of the Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section

ABA Subcommittee on Mergers & Acquisitions

Margaret "Peggy" A. Hosking

Margaret “Peggy” Hosking is a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP with the Business Planning & Transactions group at the firm’s Riverside office. Her practice focuses on all aspects of business representation from start-up and formation through exit or succession planning with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate transactions.

Frequently in the role of outside general counsel, Peggy’s representation encompasses all aspects of business and commercial real estate transactions—sales, distribution, development, manufacture, finance and leasing— for a variety of public and private sector clients. Peggy’s client coverage is wide ranging, including industries such as automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, international film production, sports teams, international engineering and manufacturing firms, and international distributors of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

Education

Loyola Law School, JD

Marymount College, BS

Experience

Best, Best & Krieger LLP

General Counsel, regional residential developer

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California, and before the Central, Southern and Eastern Federal District Courts

Christiane Cargill Kinney

Christiane Cargill Kinney is a Partner and Chair of the Entertainment Industry team at LeClairRyan, Los Angeles. Her entertainment practice focuses on the representation of talent primarily in music, film and television, and she also specializes in branding and cross-promotional opportunities for corporations and artists.

Christiane’s personal experience as a musician, recording artist and voting member of The Recording Academy provides a unique perspective to the deal-making process as an entertainment attorney. She often speaks on music and entertainment law panels as well as various radio talk shows.

As a strong supporter of education for independent artists, Kinney also writes a monthly legal column for CD Baby’s DIY Musician. CD Baby, the largest online distributor of independent music, recently recognized Kinney as #1 out of their list of the Top 10 Music Law Resources to follow on Twitter, noting that “her in-the-thick-of-it perspectives carry a lot of weight.”

Education

Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude

University of California at Irvine, B.A. Music; B.A. Psychology & Social Behavior

Experience

LeClairRyan

Wright, Robinson, Osthimer & Tatum

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California and before all U.S. District Courts in California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court

Stephen Martin

Stephen Martin is a partner in the Denver office of Arnold & Porter LLP. He focuses his practice on global compliance matters, risk assessment and management and advising companies in connection with corporate internal and governmental investigations. He counsels clients on developing, implementing and enhancing corporate compliance and ethics programs to address a broad range of potential risks, including anti-corruption/anti-bribery (FCPA and UK Bribery Act), antitrust, privacy, cyber-security, data protection and information management, Dodd-Frank Act, environmental and corporate social responsibility.

Mr. Martin has significant government, corporate and private practice experience. He began his career as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Missouri, and subsequently served as an Assistant US Attorney for the District of Columbia. He later worked in-house in various roles as legal counsel and as lead compliance officer for several major corporations during which time he worked on significant governmental and internal investigations, litigation and compliance matters, including designing and implementing broad-based compliance programs. Mr. Martin also was integral in the creation and development of a corporate compliance consulting practice at an Am Law 100 law firm.

Sean graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara ( B.A., with honors), and American University ( J.D., magna cum laude), where he served as a member of the American University Law Review. Sean is a member of the State Bar of California, San Mateo County Bar Association, and the Barrister's Club of San Mateo County.

With over 20 years of studio and independent film experience, Julia has a combination of business, creative and legal experience that gives her a unique and in-depth understanding of the film industry. Prior to law school, Julia worked as an award-winning documentary filmmaker and production executive, production coordinator and assistant to director for 12 years. Following graduation from law school, she worked at Business Affairs, Inc., a boutique entertainment law firm, representing producers, financiers and distributors. Julia later joined The Walt Disney Company and worked exclusively on Marvel and DreamWorks matters for Walt Disney Studios Distribution and as counsel to The Baby Einstein Company. In 2011, Julia started her own practice and subsequently joined Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham, LLP as a partner. She is currently the principal of the Law Office of Julia Scott, APC and practices alongside Jenna Sanz-Agero, who is Of Counsel.

Education

Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.

University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., Linguistics

NCAA Division I, Springboard Diving Team, member

Experience

Law Office of Julia Scott, APC, principal

Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham LLP, partner

The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Studios Distribution, counsel

Business Affairs, Inc., associate attorney

Accreditations

Admitted to practice in California and before the U.S. District Court for Central District of California

Associations

Beverly Hills Bar Association

California Lawyers for the Arts

Walter E. Shjeflo

Walter E. Shjeflo is a partner in Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP. His practice emphasis includes estates, trusts, conservatorships, business, and real estate matters in both transactions and litigation, and he serves as a Judge Pro Tempore, Arbitrator, and Mediator.

Walt graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.) and Hastings College of Law, University of California (J.D.) His outside activities include Kiwanis International and the Silicon Valley Bar Association.

Education

Hastings College of Law, University of California, J.D.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S.

Experience

Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California, and admitted to practice before all state courts in California and before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Associations

State Bar of California, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Trusts and Estates, and

Peter has worked in a diverse array of industries that includes social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, online gaming, software and hardware, telecommunications, medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

As a regular lecturer for the von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of California, San Diego, Peter also has lectured at the University of California, Berkeley and San Diego, Santa Clara University, and San Jose State University. In addition, he has been quoted by Reuters and in the San Francisco Chronicle, TheDeal.com and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Education

University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall, J.D.

University of California, Berkeley, M.B.A.

Yale University, B.A

Experience

Perkins Coie LLP

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

Tech Coast Angels, member

San Diego CONNECT, member

Julie Treppa

Julie Treppa advises clients on the qualifications for federal and state tax incentives, including the New Markets Tax Credit. Her practice includes structuring investments, forming venture capital funds, buyout funds and other investment partnerships; international, federal, state and local taxation with respect to mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; venture capital investments; executive compensation; and sales and use taxation.

Julie is an experienced tax litigator successfully representing clients in federal and state tax controversies in U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, and various California courts. Prior to the practice of law, Ms. Treppa worked as a tax auditor for the Internal Revenue Service in the Exam Division.

Julie earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law, her M.A. in Taxation from Golden Gate University School of Tax and her B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Davis.

Nicholas Unkovic

Nicholas Unkovic is co-chair of Squire Patton Boggs' mergers and acquisitions practice, a managing partner of its Northern California offices and a former member of its management committee. He advises domestic and multinational life sciences, technology and financial enterprises on corporate law, and he has experience in strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and emerging company representation. A significant portion of his work involves international transactions, especially on behalf of clients based in Asia and Europe.

Nick also has substantial securities law experience, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, both in the United States and internationally. He managed numerous public company acquisitions including a tender offer for a NYSE-listed company and a contested bank acquisition. Nick advises on corporate governance and 1934 Act disclosure issues, and he has served as chair of a public company's audit committee.

Nick earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan, graduating with honors. He earned his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University.

Nick has regularly been named in The Best Lawyers in America and as one of Silicon Valley's top corporate lawyers in San Jose Magazine. Law & Politics magazine has included him among its Northern California Super Lawyers each year since 2005.

Education

University of Michigan, J.D., with honors

Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude

Experience

Squire Patton Boggs

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Associations

British American Business Council Northern California, Board Member

International Bankers Association of California, Director

Partnerships Committee of the State Bar of California’s Business Law Section, former Co-Chair

California Council of International Trade, former Director

Ronald P. Wargo

Ronald P. Wargo is a partner with Friedemann Goldberg LLP where he practices in the areas of business organizations and estate planning. Ronald works closely with many privately-owned limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations, and is currently on the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section for the State Bar of California. As an adjunct professor at Empire College School of Law, he has taught business organizations, and also is past chairman of the Partnerships and Limited Liability Company Committee of the State Bar of California and the Sonoma County Bar Association’s Business Law Section.

Ronald has been designated a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California. He is experienced in strategic planning for wealth preservation through the use of trusts, wills, and advanced techniques such as family limited partnerships and charitable trusts and entities.

He earned his J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2007, the North Bay Business Journal named Ronald to its inaugural “Forty Under 40” list of forty influential business leaders under the age of 40 in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties. In 2011 and 2012, he was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine.

Ronald lives in Santa Rosa with his wife Carol, and two daughters Katrina and Sophia.

Education

University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D.

University of California, Berkeley, B.A.

Experience

Friedemann Goldberg LLP

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law

Associations

State Bar of California, Business Law Section, member, Executive Committee

Partnerships and Limited Liability Company Committee, State Bar of California

Sonoma County Bar Association Business Law Section, Past Chairman

Brian E. Whitley

Brian Whitley is of counsel with Best Best & Krieger LLP and a member of the firm’s Business Services practice group. His extensive experience in secured and unsecured lending transactions encompasses commercial real estate loans, construction loans, acquisition and development loans, letters of credit and lines of credit, as well as commercial loan modifications and restructurings.

Brian advises clients on a variety of lending transaction issues, including structuring and negotiating the transactions, and his clients comprise national, state and community banks and borrowers and guarantors.

Education

University of Southern California, J.D.

Loma Linda University, B.A.

Experience

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California

David J. Wilson

David J. Wilson is a partner in Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP, a Certified Appellate Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, General Counsel to the firm, and a member of the Supreme Court practice group. His extensive experience covers a broad array of subject areas in state and federal appellate courts such as insurance coverage, public entity defense, First Amendment rights, civil rights defense, employment, taxation, insurance fraud, trust administration, professional liability defense, loss prevention, arbitration, banking, and real estate.

David’s clients include public entities, insurance companies, private security companies, and public office holders. Additionally, he advises attorneys on litigation strategy for trials, extraordinary appellate relief, and strategy for seeking review at the Supreme Court level, and also has acted as a settlement officer for the California Court of Appeal.

A focus of David’s practice has been California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects defendants from being sued for exercising their First Amendment rights about public issues. He has been successful in defending against abusive civil lawsuits by plaintiffs seeking to silence or harass defendants who exercise their First Amendment right of free speech in both news media and public protests, and the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances, including commenting on pending litigation. David also has litigated frequently the scope of governmental immunity from civil lawsuits for public officials and public employees.

Education

University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, J.D.

University of California, Santa Barbara, A.B. with Honors, Economics and Political Science

Experience

Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP

White & Case

Accreditations

Licensed to practice in California and before the United States Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Certified Appellate Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization